Panasonic PV-D4742 DVD-VCR Combo (Black)

Rating:
Summary: DVD Player Doesn't Work
Review: Just hooked up the unit yesterday. DVDs freeze and we get the "check for scratches" error message. We have tried 4 different brand new DVDs and have gotten the same result. The only reason that I bought this through [this site] is that there were so many good reviews, otherwise I would have bought it locally so I could return it easily...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Combo
Review: Liked the option of one unit with both VCR/DVD.
Installed in minutes. The DVD has an optical jack which provides a very high quality sound. Integrated nicely to my surround receiver and big screen for a real home theater environment.
Don't let the people who DID NOT installs theirs properly mis lead you. This is a very nice unit, and no problems.

Rating:
Summary: reject
Review: Panasonic did not test this one enough before selling it.
I CAN NOT AGREEE MORE! it randomly rejects VCR tapes and new DVDs
I called and after much run around was told to bring it to a shop. bringing it to a repair shop seems pointless and wasteful, as the probelms seem to be global
this product should be RECALLED.

Rating:
Summary: Not Good Enough
Review: The VCR cannot, of course, tape DVDs, but more importantly, the
VCR cannot be programmed for repeating events! The front-panel
display doesn't tell how much time the tape or DVD has been
playing or even whether there's a tape or disc inside. The
combination stop/eject VCR button is annoying as well.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not as perfect as most Panasonic products
Review: This has excellent sound and picture quality, even on the zoom, but on letterbox format, the zoom quality will be bad. However, it works great on anamorphic format. One disgusting thing about this is that the "Zoom 1" and "Zoom 2" features appear at the bottom of the screen instead of hiding it. It is distracting when you're trying to watch the picture. I don't know of a way to fix this. It's the one annoying thing about this product and I think Panasonic should correct it.

Rating:
Summary: Take my (our) word for it, and don't buy this machine.
Review: This lemon was given me by my sons for my last birthday, and I was delighted because I was looking for such a combo and have always had great luck with Panasonic products. In case you did not come across it in my Amazon review of Toshiba Model SD-V291 combo which I bought to replace this unit, this Panasonic was trouble from day one, intermittently "rejecting" VHS tapes, i.e., a tape could be inserted in the "door", but the door wouldn't close and the tape would be ejected. At Panasonic's instruction, I made two, 120-mile round trips to bring the unit to the Panasonic service center in Albany, NY, which professed never to have encountered the problem and "could not replicate" it, though they were impressed, but unable to help, when I brought along two tapes, one of which the machine promptly rejected. Panasonic finally offered to give me a new unit for an exchange fee of $156!!!!!, which offer at least provided a good laugh. I eventually gave up, bought the Toshiba, and the rest of the story is recounted in my review of that machine. The important thing for y'all to remember, and notwithstanding the favorable reviews appearing elsewhere for this unit, is DO NOT BUY IT because if you have the problems I (we) did, Panasonic will tell you to get lost. As for me, Panasonic is on my permanent Black List.

Rating:
Summary: Take my (our) word for it, and don't buy this machine.
Review: This lemon was given me by my sons for my last birthday, and I was delighted because I was looking for such a combo and have always had great luck with Panasonic products. In case you did not come across it in my Amazon review of Toshiba Model SD-V291 combo which I bought to replace this unit, this Panasonic was trouble from day one, intermittently "rejecting" VHS tapes, i.e., a tape could be inserted in the "door", but the door wouldn't close and the tape would be ejected. At Panasonic's instruction, I made two, 120-mile round trips to bring the unit to the Panasonic service center in Albany, NY, which professed never to have encountered the problem and "could not replicate" it, though they were impressed, but unable to help, when I brought along two tapes, one of which the machine promptly rejected. Panasonic finally offered to give me a new unit for an exchange fee of $156!!!!!, which offer at least provided a good laugh. I eventually gave up, bought the Toshiba, and the rest of the story is recounted in my review of that machine. The important thing for y'all to remember, and notwithstanding the favorable reviews appearing elsewhere for this unit, is DO NOT BUY IT because if you have the problems I (we) did, Panasonic will tell you to get lost. As for me, Panasonic is on my permanent Black List.

Rating:
Summary: Two thumbs up in one rack space!
Review: Very solid piece of equipment. Top notch appearance, a good match for other "classic black" components in the rack. Both VCR and DVD components have all the bells and whistles I need, and image quality from both is very good. Good variety of output connection options, including optical for audio from the DVD, S-VHS and Component video from the DVD side and a standard composite video out which serves both VCR and DVD. In addition to requiring only one section of shelf space, only one video selection is required on my AV amp to use either VCR or DVD output.

Rating:
Summary: Buy Any Other Brand
Review: While I have not had any problems with the VHS player in the unit, the DVD player displays a moving black bar running across the screen when playing any DVD. My unit has been in the repair shop for the last 5 months. The service center has replaced most of the major components as well as making several timing and setting adjustments. But they have not been able to correct the problem. I am very ANGRY at Panasonic for not simply replacing the unit since it is obvious that it cannot be repaired correctly. I used to be long time fan of Panasonic products, but after this experience, I will NEVER again purchase another Panasonic product.